Don’t judge me!” Most of us have used those words to defend ourselves when we believe someone has unfairly called into question something we’ve done.
So, is it wrong to judge people? After all, Jesus Himself said, “Do not judge others” (Matthew 7:1). The answer is yes and no.
It’s essential to understand that the word judge is a neutral word. It can have a positive or a negative meaning, depending on how it is being used. For example, there is a big difference between someone possessing “good judgment” and someone being “judgmental.” The first refers to a person having wise discernment. The second is used to describe a person who wrongly condemns others.
Jesus used the word judge in different ways too. On one occasion He said, “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly” (John 7:24). Clearly, Jesus was teaching us about an appropriate and wise form of judging people and situations. But He used the word in quite a different way when He said, “Do not judge others” (Matthew 7:1). Here, Jesus was focusing on an inappropriate form of judging—the hypocritical kind that scrutinizes everyone else but ourselves. He went on to stress that we must first address the problems in our own lives before we can appropriately address a problem that we have with someone else (Matthew 7:3-5).
In Matthew 7:1, Jesus was not saying that all judging is wrong. If He had, then He would have been guilty of violating His own teaching. He was correctly pointing out the hypocrisy of the religious establishment in His day. In so doing, however, He pointed out that we won’t be good judges unless we’re first willing to look at ourselves with the same level of scrutiny.
The way to develop good judgment is to judge ourselves first.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 45:1-28
More:
Read Proverbs 4:1-9 to see how wisdom and judgment work well together.
Next:
What kind of a judge are you? Where in your life do you need to step back and evaluate yourself before you judge others? Why is judging others sometimes a good thing?
conmeo on January 29, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Thanks Jeff well said
Jeff Olson on January 30, 2012 at 9:01 am
Your welcome conmeo…these are important truths to keep before us…Jesus’ words has implications for nearly all of our relationships
mike wittmer on January 30, 2012 at 11:53 am
I think this is the most misunderstood verse in our day. Thanks for setting the record straight! I guess I just made a judgment there–you’re right, it’s awfully hard not to do!
Jeff Olson on January 30, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Mike, this verse does tend to be misunderstood…and yes it is hard not to do 🙂
daisymarygoldr on January 31, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Discernment is a spiritual gift that gives us the ability to look beneath the surface and make careful distinctions between the sheep and wolf in sheep’s clothing. We judge correctly based on the standard of God’s Word and not by human standards (John 8:15-16).
God’s Word is a double-edged sword that judges the innermost thoughts and attitudes of the heart to convict— both ways. This helps us remove the log-sized sin from our lives and eliminates hypocrisy.
When it comes to judging others, we must not make personal attacks to accuse the brethren. The motive of right judgment is to correct not condemn. And it is at this point we are to exercise good judgment. We must not bother correcting dogs and hogs i.e. mockers.
Matt 7:6 when taken in its context is about correction. Jesus tells us not to waste pearls of wisdom on those who cannot receive these truths from God’s Spirit. And those who are spiritual need not defend ourselves because we can judge all things but— we will not be rightly judged by others.
winn collier on February 3, 2012 at 3:57 pm
When I think of judging as “making something right” or “saying the right thing about” something, I’m glad there is such a think as judgement in our world. When I think of judging as shaming another person or dismantling another person’s dignity, then I have another take on it altogether.